Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-08-19
AN AERoNAUTS STORY.
Fighting For Life with Maniac 10000 Feet
Above the Earth-A Desperate,Struggie
Fer the Agstely.
Leeds Murcury

IlSAtluS Ut Lille Win Il haatac Ap.upu reef
Above the Earth-A DesperateIStruggie
Fer the Agstely.
Leeds Murcury.
4 great crowd gathered to see me as
cend. Some of the citizens had promised
to go with me, bat their courage failed at
the last moment, and I resolved to go
alone.
Wherever I had made ascessions, 81
though in widsly differant places, had
always noticed among the spectators 8
young man whose unusual pallor and
deep sunkea great eyes had impressed
me. He was greately interested on my
undertaking, and pressed near TO offer
any slight assistance. I had become so
used to his presence that at F. l involun-
entary looked around for him SIS 1 called
to my men TO make ready. The unknown
stood close by the barrier, paler and
more haggard than ever. l sprang into
the boat and ordered the rope to be
cut.
At the same moment l saw a move
ment among the spectators, but did no.
heed 1t, as | was Arranging some things
in the bottom of the boat, and was stoop
raising balloon was high in the air.
ed up and saw that strange looking
young man with me.
Your obident seryant,sir," said he
very politely,
"By what right are you here?" asked
very indignant.
''lou could not escape me; therefore
have right to be here he said.
Perplexed by this answer 1 was silent.
Untroubled by my amazement he went
on: In this way we shall never go up"
With these words he seized two bags of
ballest and cast them out.
Sir" cried angrily catching his arm,
Il cannot allow that" The barometer
showed me that the balloon had rizen
two thousand feet. I'VE must decend."
said F"thoss clouds are darkening around
Us, and growing darker and heavier in
the south, warns US of a thunderstorm"
No" he cried. 1--WE must dash through
the clouds; the lightning shall flash far
below u.s." and once more two bags of
ballast few overheard. l struggled to
hold him back, but he pushed me to the
floor with one hand, while he carried out
his purpose with the other, saying: Il
am very sorry, but l see you do not I'M
derstaud the thing, so l must take the
whole control. Nov don't Interfere with
me again"
He continued throwing overheard bag
after bag of ballast, holding me firmly
back as soon as l trisd TO prevent his
actions. I saw had to deal with a mad
man far my superior in physical strength,
so L resolved to try cunning. / tried
TO interest him in conversation while
| slyly pulled the valve-rUPe and hoped to
bring the balloon down before h e
| observed our course.
Suddenly he SAID. You have opened
the valve in spite OF my ORDERS" 1 drop
ped the string. Fortunately" he CON
ti1ued while he flung some bags over
| the side we have yet 200 pounds of bal
| last. | allowed you to open the valve be-
cause the gas threatened to burst the bal
| loon, but don, you do it again" The
clonds sailed under us IN a glittering
| stream, on which the balloon cast deep
| shadow. Thunder rumbled far be
| low.
Once more he lightened the balloon by
| so pounds, and it shot upward like an
| arrow. The delirium of myuncomfOrtable
| com paniOn seemed to increase in pro
| portion to our distance from the earth.
Higher, higher! you need not know
more.
| With these words he flung the compass
| out. | was helpless as child before the
madmaE. To my urgent entreaties to
| have our course changed he only cried
Il am out of patience with you. Now
| you shall no longer know whether we GO
up or down" Then he threw the baron
eter ard half the remaining ballast
after the compass. Even higher rose
| the balloon; my heart throbbed as if it
| a =. 1 j ~
| and mouth.
Desperation gave me strength.
struggled with him, but [ had to yield
! He threw me to the floor, and, holding
me there, he took hnife from his peck
ct, and cut rope.
With a shrek flew to the end of the
boat instinctively chung to the only re
naming rope, and overwhelmed with
horror, closed my eyes.
After long pause I opened them, anG
! found myself alone upon the boat-alOne
| 10000 feet above the earth. Ny com.
panion lad vanished. rose still higher
higher, rushing so swiftly through the
| air that every breath l drew was keenest
| torture. A sharp frost made my teeth
! chatter, but suddenly a sufocating heat
took the place of the cold. | found my
/
cloud, and heard a terrific report-ehe
| gas had burst from its prison,
The balloon whirled with horrible ra.
pidity as it colladsed-an ugly formless
mass.
The descent seemed long. AS l neared
the earthI saw I was within two miles OF
the ocean and feared the wind would
| blow me there. During the whole jour
! nav down I had ba.o standing on thf
| end of the boat, convulsively clinging tc
| the rope. A violent lurch tore il from
! my hold and hurled ME backward. L fell
| not as 1 ex expected, into space, but il
| the soft grass of meadow. l was near
er the ground than 1 could in my unfor
tunate position judge. The anchor
trailing along, had luckily caught fast.
had scarcely dropped before the baloot
| now unburdsned, sailed swiftly over the
| sea. A miracle saved me from the mos
awful peril my exciting life ever brough
me. Nothing was ever heard of my un
fortunate companion.